Houseplants have always been a favorite for some people. Growing up, my mom always had spider plants hanging down from countertops or pots of ferns sitting on bookshelves. As a kid, I remember planting outdoor plants into indoor pots, just to see if they could grow in the kitchen, as opposed to a little garden we had to share with neighbors. I remember my mom digging through Home Depot and similar stores, looking for indoor greenery. What I donāt remember is my friendsā homes having these same indoor gardens. In between then and now, houseplants seemed to be off the radar. I didnāt think that my room was incomplete without a hanging ivy basket or a monstera leaf decorating the corner nook.
Now, however, plants are back in style. You can find them anywhere (and not just at my momās house). You donāt have to sort through designated nurseries to find your indoor flora. A quick trip to Jewel, Trader Joeās, Whole Foods, or similar stores reveals displays of succulents, tropical leaves, and other mini houseplants that never seemed to exist before.
In my apartment, I have two majesty palms dominating the rooms, Boston ivy trailing down from a marble table (that I bought specifically for the plant, Iāll admit), and succulents hiding on every window ledge I have. Shopping for groceries is a test of wills. I will not buy another plant today is my new mantra.
There are a few explanations for this recent ābloom,ā and Iām not surprised by them.
Some people link the new houseplant trend to social media, and I couldnāt agree more. One look through Instagram or Pinterest reveals photos of lushly decorated scenes. Each photo is similar: bedrooms with plants hanging down from every shelf, a fiddle fig tree standing in the corner, and ferns āaccidentally-on-purposeā trailing onto bedspreads. Pictures of coffee are no longer complete without a succulent sitting in the background. Popular hashtags like ā#plantgangā or ā#plantsofinstagramā or ā#urbanjungleā show the popularity of posting about your plants.
Esquire suggests another reason for the comeback of indoor gardens: theyāre therapeutic in a hectic world. And I agree. An extra dose of oxygen, freshness, and (donāt fight me) companionship is hard to beat.
I will say I still donāt know exactly what Iām doing, and I hope my majesty palms forgive me. Instagram doesnāt tell you that itās not easy to find the perfect balance of light, water, and nutrients. Or that the watering process is worthy of a spot on your to-do list. But itās all worth it; Iām fully in favor of the houseplant revival.
Have any favorite indoor plant buddies? Send me an email. Iād love to know!
